☰ Cards, readings & spreads
Full Moon Spread
Intention-setting belongs to the new moon reading; a full moon tarot spread reviews what has developed rather than opening another wish list. About two weeks after the new moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun and its whole disc is lit—a useful visual reference for taking stock, not evidence that cards reveal hidden facts. You use these five positions to examine what became clearer, what grew, and what deserves less of your attention.
Next full moonMonday, October 26, 2026, 4:11 AM UTCMoon in Taurus
What has come to light
Here, the card is read as something you can now recognize more clearly. What has become noticeable? Check your interpretation against lived evidence rather than treating it as a secret revealed.
What has grown since the new moon
Growth is read as development, not necessarily improvement. What has gained strength or occupied more space over the past two weeks? You might identify progress, a recurring worry, or an expanding commitment.
What is ready to be released
Release is read as reducing a burden or ending an unhelpful pattern. What can you stop feeding? A difficult card here is not an instruction to abandon a person or responsibility.
What you are still holding on to
Attachment is read as what you continue to protect, repeat, or depend on. What makes letting go difficult? Compare this with position three without assuming everything you hold onto needs discarding.
What to carry into the waning weeks
Finally, the card is read as a useful practice, resource, or boundary to retain. What deserves your attention as the Moon wanes? Translate your interpretation into one manageable action rather than a predicted outcome.
How to deal it
Choose one area of your life and shuffle while recalling the time since the new moon. Draw five cards and place them in a circle outlining the full disc: top, upper right, lower right, lower left, then upper left. Read clockwise, using each position's question before consulting card interpretations. Pair cards one and two to distinguish recognition from growth, then three and four to explore release alongside attachment. Read five as your practical response, and record one thing to reduce and one to maintain.
Variations worth using
Questions it handles well
When to use another spread
You may need a different layout if your main question concerns a choice between specific options rather than a review of recent experience. The Decision Spread gives those alternatives clearer space for comparison. For opening a cycle and setting intentions, choose the New Moon Spread instead. Neither layout establishes another person's private thoughts or substitutes for evidence about a situation.
Full Moon Spread: questions
Do I have to do the reading at the exact full moon?
You do not need to read at the exact astronomical moment. Choose a nearby time when you can review the preceding two weeks without rushing, and note the period you are considering. The date displayed on this page can serve as your scheduling reference; moonlight, candles, and special preparations are optional.
Can I use this spread if I skipped the new moon reading?
You can start with this reading even without an earlier spread. Before shuffling, write down one concern, commitment, or activity that occupied you roughly two weeks ago. Use that as your reference for position two, and distinguish what you actually remember from an interpretation suggested by the cards.
Does the full moon's zodiac sign change the positions?
Keep the five positions as written, regardless of the sign shown on the page. The full moon falls in the zodiac sign opposite the Sun's, but that does not require a different layout. If you include astrology in your practice, use the displayed sign as an optional reflection prompt rather than a claim about what is happening to you.
Should beginners include reversed cards?
For a beginner reading, you can keep every card upright and let the positions supply the context. If you already read reversed cards, decide how to approach them before shuffling and stay consistent. A reversed card is not automatically negative, and an upright card in the release position can describe something useful that you have taken too far.
